Pukkelpop Music Festival Fatalities Lowered To Four From Five Then Raised Again (Updated)

The Mayor and public prosecutor for the Belgian town of Hasselt yesterday announced that four people instead of five died as a result of severe storm that hit the Pukkelpop music festival on Aug. 18. ( Billboard.Biz). Today (Aug. 24), however, it was announced that one of the seriously injured concertgoes

A search of the festival grounds following the storm led to the discovery of an injured individual who was brought to one of the area hospitals and died. An investigation into the death revealed that the person died not as a consequence of the rainstorm but from another incident several hours before the storm. Officials did not disclose the victim's actual cause of death.

Eight more severely injured people remain hospitalized in the Hasselt region. Estimates are that over 140 people suffered minor injuries such as bruises and abrasions. The public prosecutor's office hopes to give a final number of injured concertgoers -- all between the ages of 15 and 58 -- by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, the Pukkelpop organization announced it would refund admissions and food/beverage vouchers by Nov. 15. Some of the bands paid in advance have said they would be willing to waive their payment or return part of their fees to the festival. "Our bookers are currently negotiating the possibilities, but I have the feeling there's quite a lot of goodwill here," Yo van Saet of Live Nation Belgium said.

At the Lowlands festival (Biddinghuizen, The Netherlands Aug. 19-21) the Belgian band dEUS dedicated their show to the Pukkelpop victims.

The event also revealed the effectiveness of social media as Twitter and Facebook over traditional cell phones as networks at the time of the calamity were overloaded.